The new Sublette chair rises 1,600 vertical feet in just four minutes.The top terminal is situated at 10,000 feet and is highest chairlift station on the mountain.Tower 13 with two 12 sheave support assemblies.Upper lift line above the Laramie Cliffs.View down the steep lift line at tower 12.Breakover towers 14 and 15 below the top station.Large hold down tower 7 in Laramie Bowl.Lower part of the line in the trees.Bottom terminal at the base of Grand and Rendezvous Trail.Loading area.Leitner-Poma commemorative plaque.Side view of the return terminal.This lift features six pack line gauge to accommodate a ring and pinion evacuation drive at the top.View riding up.Ascending into Laramie Bowl.Assemblies on tower 7.The steepest part of the line over the Alta Chutes.View back down where the old lift featured a light side flyover.Closely spaced towers 9 and 10.Towers above the Laramie Cliffs.Arriving at the top station.Unloading area.Side view of the LPA six pack station.View from the top shack.Drive operator control desk.There are two diesel standby engines.Primary electric motor.Kissling gearbox.A grip entering the top station.Grip and chair seen from above.View from the drive terminal porch.PTO sheaves.Upper station overview.LPA station with wood underskin.LPA comfort chair imported from Austria.Tower 11 with combination assemblies.A chair flying over sister lift Thunder and the Aerial Tram.The primary purpose of the comfort chairs is to resist wind as much as possible with added weight.High section over Laramie Traverse.Flat section of the line below the Alta Chutes.Laramie Bowl segment.Side view of the return.LPA chair.Tower 1.View riding into Laramie Bowl.Looking back down the lower line.Tower 10.T11.Tower 13.Another view of T13.Tower 15.Upper part of the line seen from Rendezvous Trail.Side view of the top breakover.The bottom station seen from above.Turnaround area and short maintenance rail.Return station operator pedestal.View up from the load area.Inside the return.In station controls.Turnaround with a straight segment in the middle.Departure zone.Lift line overview.
Any reason to go with quad chairs when everything else is 6 pack? Does it have to do with a slightly smaller drive motor for less weight, or are the quad chairs less susceptible to wind?
It is cheaper than a six pack. Smaller line gauge = smaller maintenance cost. If the capacity is not needed, why would you go with a 6 pack ? We are not in Austria, but in America. 6 packs also have their avantages (i.e. less chairs for a similar capacity = less chairs and grips to maintain, bigger span between the chairs = more time to load/unload)
I thought Peter did a good job explaining everything in the pictures, but Jackson specified gearbox bypass evacuation capabilities (hydraulic powered ring/pinion bull wheel direct) only engineered for CLD6. The Leitner comfort chairs (quickly becoming standard equipment) are considerably heavier than prior versions of 4 passenger chairs, and with the extended hangars they swing slower in wind gusts.
So for extreme wind/weather operations, they got robust evacuation capability to greatly reduce the possibility of having to rope evac on such a steep profile (likely in nasty weather). The inherently wider line gauge sets them up with the ability to run slow with larger carrier contact clearances to clear the line under unpredictable wind gust conditions. The comfort chairs weight & extended hangar (to accommodate the steepest parts of the profile) have very similar performance to a 6 passenger chair in high wind pound for pound.
Having just ridden on this lift for the first time today, the combo of having a full backpack and not being able to throw my arm over the back of the carrier made this absolutely terrifying. Enjoyed the hell out of the terrain but this lift is not for the faint of heart
You know that you can lower the safety bar, even if the locals and cool kids will stare at you and maybe complain? Event despite learning to not lower it when in the US that old Sublette was one of the lifts I usually did :)
Are you wearing your pack on the chair? If so, I’d advise you to take it off and put it in your lap. Backpacks push you forward and won’t let you sit securely on the chair (which will, not coincidentally, make you feel better when riding the lift). We don’t stop the lift and make you take it off at Copper, but I’ve heard of places that do.
Even without the light side flyover, the lift still has an intimidating profile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any reason to go with quad chairs when everything else is 6 pack? Does it have to do with a slightly smaller drive motor for less weight, or are the quad chairs less susceptible to wind?
LikeLike
It is cheaper than a six pack. Smaller line gauge = smaller maintenance cost. If the capacity is not needed, why would you go with a 6 pack ? We are not in Austria, but in America. 6 packs also have their avantages (i.e. less chairs for a similar capacity = less chairs and grips to maintain, bigger span between the chairs = more time to load/unload)
LikeLike
But it is running a 6 pack line gauge
LikeLike
I thought Peter did a good job explaining everything in the pictures, but Jackson specified gearbox bypass evacuation capabilities (hydraulic powered ring/pinion bull wheel direct) only engineered for CLD6. The Leitner comfort chairs (quickly becoming standard equipment) are considerably heavier than prior versions of 4 passenger chairs, and with the extended hangars they swing slower in wind gusts.
So for extreme wind/weather operations, they got robust evacuation capability to greatly reduce the possibility of having to rope evac on such a steep profile (likely in nasty weather). The inherently wider line gauge sets them up with the ability to run slow with larger carrier contact clearances to clear the line under unpredictable wind gust conditions. The comfort chairs weight & extended hangar (to accommodate the steepest parts of the profile) have very similar performance to a 6 passenger chair in high wind pound for pound.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I really like the color scheme on Jackson Holes LPA lifts
LikeLiked by 2 people
Why the super long hangers? Seems a bit excessive
LikeLike
Wind resistance, see prior comments.
LikeLike
Having just ridden on this lift for the first time today, the combo of having a full backpack and not being able to throw my arm over the back of the carrier made this absolutely terrifying. Enjoyed the hell out of the terrain but this lift is not for the faint of heart
LikeLike
You know that you can lower the safety bar, even if the locals and cool kids will stare at you and maybe complain? Event despite learning to not lower it when in the US that old Sublette was one of the lifts I usually did :)
LikeLike
Are you wearing your pack on the chair? If so, I’d advise you to take it off and put it in your lap. Backpacks push you forward and won’t let you sit securely on the chair (which will, not coincidentally, make you feel better when riding the lift). We don’t stop the lift and make you take it off at Copper, but I’ve heard of places that do.
LikeLike
With all of the wind exposure on this lift, I’m surprised partial chair storage at a minimum wasn’t installed.
LikeLike
Kissing Gearbox. That’s one way to put it
LikeLike
KissLing gearbox. Should have looked closer
LikeLike
Could you theoretically get the LPA Comfort Chairs for a Six Pack? I assume so, but I’m not sure.
LikeLike
Yes. they’re basically the bubble carrier.
LikeLiked by 1 person